12-year-old boy found dead with mutilated body in Ogun
By Sodiq Adelakun
In a harrowing incident in Ogun State, the community of Kotogbo in Asero Estate, Abeokuta, has been shaken by the discovery of a 12-year-old boy’s mutilated body.
The young victim, identified as John Soyinka, had been reported missing a week prior to the grim find. Local authorities confirmed that the boy’s body bore signs of horrific mutilation, with his eyes gouged out and wrists severed.
The Ogun State Police Command, which had been searching for Soyinka since his disappearance, is now treating the case as a homicide following the macabre discovery.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun Command, Omolola Odutola, acknowledged the finding to the press on Wednesday. Odutola informed that the boy’s remains had been turned over to his grieving family to proceed with funeral arrangements.
While the community mourns, law enforcement is actively investigating to bring those responsible to justice. The case has sent shockwaves through the state capital, prompting a call for increased vigilance and safety measures.
A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that the boy disappeared after he went to see a customer who had done a transaction at a POS shop where the deceased assisted.
“I know the boy very well. He is about 12 years old and lived with his mother who I guess is no longer with her husband.
“His mother does menial jobs like helping people to sweep.
“What we heard was that, last Thursday, he said he wanted to check on a customer who did POS transactions, apparently maybe there was something to sort out about the transaction, but the boy never came back.
“The boy and his mother lived at Olasunkanmi community and so the Community Development Association reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer at Obantoko Station.
“The DPO informed the police at Adigbe and Lafenwa, but it was the boy’s corpse that was seen at Kotogbo community, just beside Olasunkanmi on Monday.
“The two communities are inside Asero Estate, Abeokuta. It is suspected to be a case of ritual killing because the boy’s eyes were removed while his wrists were also cut off,” he said.
